Disney without your KIDS!?!?

[Dawn414]

We have APs this year and got a crazy deal on airfare back in June so DH and I decided to go just the two of us. While we thought about the kids often, I wouldn't trade the trip with just the two of us for the world. We absolutely LOVE having the kids with us, but to similar posts, it's also nice to be able to do EE, RNR, SpaceMountain and other 'THINGS' that we'd have to do baby swap on otherwise. It also gives the kids a break from us too which they sometimes need. They got to spend extra time with the grandparents who live in FLA and that too is priceless.

Dawn McG

 

[eliza61]

I couldn't imagine it until I did it. Now I'd go with perfect strangers if I could.

My dh and I went without the kids and it was absolutely the most magical, romantic vacation we had in a long time.

Now I have no problems what so ever imagining and doing it. My kids go at least every other year so believe me, I get plenty of opportunities to experience it with them also.

Up next: a 7 day trip at the GF with my 3 best girlfriends to celebrate one's 5 year Cancer free anniversary. My fabulous Dh payed for us to upgrade to concierge.

 

[mareed]

Nope, our kids aren't older, but they do go on 2 Disney trips with us each year, and then we take an Anniversary trip without them each year while they visit Grandparents/Aunts/Uncles/Cousins. So, if it were our only annual vacation, I wouldn't leave them. We've been doing this since they were 3 & 6, and they're now 8 & 11.

 

[disquestaddict]

We thought the same as most of you. How could we go without our son? Last year I decided to surprise my DW with a short trip,(4 days), just the 2 of us. (We did a 15 day trip 3 months earlier with him). We did the dining plan and went during Flower Power. We missed our son and felt guilty at first but the first time we had a nice, guiet, romantic dinner, just the 2 of us, it was like being on a second honeymoon. It helps you to remember why you fell in Love and married in the first place. I recommend it for everyone, Remember, some day the kids will be gone and it's going to be just the two of you again.

 

[my3princes]

DH and I are going to WDW for two nights in a couple of weeks. We have NEVER been on vacation without our 3 sons and the oldest is now 12. We took the boys to WDW for 23 days last summer and we will be taking them for 3 weeks again next summer. This is a quick adult only trip and we will be meeting several DIS friends that we have been chatting with for years. The boys are not at all upset as it requires a lot of travel in a short period of time and they wouldn't enjoy a bunch of sit down adult meals. I am so excited to be able to spend time alone with DH, it is well overdo. The grandparents are planning fun activities for the boys so it is really a win win situation.

 

[daisyduck123]

I can't imagine being there without them!

Neither can I...maybe when they're in college we'll try a trip without them.

 

[Kim1964]

If I had anyone to leave the kids with for 5 days or so, I would have booked a WDW trip for just DH and me this year, to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We don't have anyone who can watch the kids that long, though (the kids don't have any living grandparents).

I love taking the kids, but I think it would be great to go there and have a break from parenting. It's one of my favorite places and to have a few days to explore and play without refereeing the kids would be awesome.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I can see going if your kids are grown up and have there own life but while they are young, I can't fathom at why you wouldn't want to take them. Like other people have said watching the little one's faces light up is half the magic.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Well, we're going without ds in January...we just spent two weeks in Florida at the end of August with ds. DH and I are doing the Disney Half Marathon, and this year they changed the week so it is the second weekend in January. I didn't want to take ds out of 4th grade after one week in school post-vacation.

I feel a bit guilty, but what was I going to do with him while we were in the race?! I know, I guess I could have gotten an in-room sitter, but I decided counting on someone to show up at 3 am....I would have made myself sick with worry. Plus, I expect to be a bit worn out after the race. I definitely won't have the energy to hit the parks the way ds expects.

DH and I take a trip just for us every 5 years (ok, that's once since ds so far), and we don't feel guilty. Every year we do a family vacation that is extremely kid-friendly (cruise, Disney, etc.), as well as a weekend trip or two that are catered to him (Storyland, Santa's Village, etc.).

I think it's important to have a balance. My first responsibility to my son (after keeping him safe and healthy), is to do the same for my marriage. We need time alone, which makes us enjoy the time spent with him all the more.

 

[zippy doo dah]

I have read many similar posts basically saying the same thing, but I agre with them, so here's my 2 cents...

I LOVE Disney (that, of course, goes without saying) and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE going with my kids - we had our first family trip there last July 06 and it was so magical and special to me to see everything for the 1st time again through their eyes. It was a new found Disney magic

That being said, DH and I have been together 14 yrs (married 10) and have not taken a trip (even an overnighter) where we have been able to enjoy being together as a couple and not as mommy and daddy since our Disneymoon in 97. We are finally planning a long weekend (2-3 nights) in April 08 to go to Disney and be a couple and enjoy each other's company without the kids. Will it be hard to go - yes, I will miss my kids very much, but I will have my cell to call as much as I want, or as much as they want. Will there be times in the park when I say "the kids should be here to see that" - yes and then I will go get them a bunch of souvies and give them a call. A pp said (and I agree 150%) that a happy mommy and daddy make for happy children. We are a very close family and do lots of stuff together and we all love every minute of it - but there are times when a break is needed. That doesn't mean we stop being parents or that we don't care b/c that is the furthest from the truth - it just means we need to have those few days to unwind and refresh ourselves from all the stresses of adulthood and parenting to come home and be the best mommy and daddy we can be for our kids.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I'm all for couples getting time together alone. We had a great time on our vacation. However DL wasn't nearly as much fun without my kiddos.

 

[Dawn414]

Will it be hard to go - yes, I will miss my kids very much, but I will have my cell to call as much as I want, or as much as they want. Will there be times in the park when I say "the kids should be here to see that" - yes and then I will go get them a bunch of souvies and give them a call. A pp said (and I agree 150%) that a happy mommy and daddy make for happy children. We are a very close family and do lots of stuff together and we all love every minute of it - but there are times when a break is needed. That doesn't mean we stop being parents or that we don't care b/c that is the furthest from the truth - it just means we need to have those few days to unwind and refresh ourselves from all the stresses of adulthood and parenting to come home and be the best mommy and daddy we can be for our kids.

AMEN! The first time we took the kids to Magic Kingdom, my daughter nearly fell out of the stroller she was so excited to see Cinderella's castle...nothing compares to that. But it's still nice to be able to take a few days away to just be...

 

[beattyfamily]

I totally agree with you OP. I couldn't imagine going to WDW without my kids until they are older and just don't want to go or can't because they're busy with their adult lives going to college etc...

Of course, "we need time alone" and parents "need to have a few days to unwind and refresh ourselves from all the stresses of adulthood and parenting and come home and be the best mommy and daddy we can be for our kids", and I agree that "..., some day the kids will be gone and it's going to be just the two of us again", but Disney won't be one of those "unwinding without the kids" trips for us. Instead, we do dates, long weekends away, Las Vegas, a beach trip etc...but NOT Disney; Disney is a family trip for us until the kids are grown and not interested in joining us anymore.

Once our kids are older and don't want to or can't go with us anymore, I am certainly looking forward to experiencing Disney as a couple without kids, but not until then.

That is our opinion but to each their own.

 

[ZPT1022]

 

[tjmw2727]

I can see WDW as a place where folks would not want to do a trip without the kids but not us DH and I have gone once alone and I have done two "mom's only" trips with some friends and my sister and sil.

We actually took our first trip to WDW without the kids by accident! About 5 years ago my sister offered to come stay with my dd's for a long weekend so dh and I could go away for some needed R&R. Living just north of Boston at the time we tried to find a reasonably priced weekend trip in diriving range - no can do. Boston was way too expensive and NH, ME and the Cape were at peak foliage $$$ season.

Oh wait we have WDW AP's, park admission is free, 40% discount on loging and a $29.00 airfare from MHT to MCO - maybe we should go to Disney. Hey kids what do you think about us going to WDW alone? Kids - wow that sounds great, you can see all the boring movies and shows and scary rides so we don't have to ok? Oh and can you bring us back something? Can you say Done Deal? Of course we missed the kids like crazy but we would have anywhere we were!

It all boils down to what works for each family. Nothing wrong with not wanting to visit WDW without the kids, Nothing wrong with visiting WDW without the kids.
TJ

 

[drag n' fly]

We are staying at OKW in April for the first time with NO kids
We are doing the DVC thing so we decided to go on a trip without the kids. We are getting the deluxe dining plan and we are hitting all the 2 credit ts places and drinking copious amounts of good wine and staying up late and sleeping in. No Character meals, no buffets, no commando dining. I have committed the last 13 years of my life being the best Mom I can be and I darn well deserve every single second of it! We are more excited about the April trip than the GC trip next month. We feel like we will be dating all over again! The best medicine for our marriage! IMO

 

[beattyfamily]

But you still do something just as a couple. For us, we really enjoy WDW- always have, always will. We love going with the kids and we really enjoy our family trips but it seems that there is always at least one thing we see or notice on each trip that we think we would like to do, if only the kids weren't with us. We'd love to try Victoria & Albert's. Not happening with two three year olds and a six year old. We'd love to do a monorail lounge tour- not happening with the kids. Visiting resorts just to look around- the kids will play along for a little bit, but they certainly aren't as interested as we are. Food & Wine Festival- same deal. Behind the Scenes tours- again, not with the kids. Pleasure Island- not with the kids. Sooooo....... as much fun as we have going with the kids, we could easily fill a trip without them. Plus the idea of no strollers, diaper bags, loveys, etc..... WOW!!! We haven't done it yet, but we hope to do a long weekend together next fall for Food & Wine Festival. I am going away in a few weeks for a ladies only trip, this will be my first time leaving the kids for any length of time, but DH is taking vacation time and spending the time with them. They're ordering pizza, going to children's museums, visiting the Grandmas, etc..... so I imagine they'll have a lot of fun. Plus Daddy lets them eat junk food, watch movies I wouldn't (Star Wars anyone?), and do other weird stuff that I don't. They're going to have a wonderful time. It will definitely be weird, the longest I've left them before is overnight at my mom's or MIL's, but I think they'll be fine.

Not sure why you needed to quote me and explain yourself. I said it was my opinion and to each their own.

 

[bellebud]

I myself wouldn't go on vacation w/out my kids, to disney or anywhere else. but that's just me... every person has a different experience and different needs and comfort levels. I do think disney is a great place for a couple to go w/out the kids if they desire that couples-only time.

 

[tinkandpan]

DH and I vacation for weekends without the kids probably every 3 mths or so (we are blessed to have terrific grandparents in the same town). We never thought about Disney without the kids until we started comparing prices. We have AP and got cheap airfare. We were able to secure a dinner at V&A and we are going to stay at the GF. We were able to do this for a lot cheaper than some of the other things we were looking to do. Now- we just got back from Disney with the kids not too long ago and will most likely head back in Jan or Feb with them so it's not like they are really missing out. If you were a family who only went to Disney once or twice every couple of years, then No- i don't think i would leave them home.

 

[twinspluscade]

Okay...please don't flame me for this one...but in reading posts here and there..it seems it's not unusual for people to go without their kids? I just can't even imagine? Half of the magic for us was watching our kids enjoy everything..the looks on their faces..priceless. I'm assuming people that do this there kids are older and don't really care to go?? DH and I were saying how we want to be at WDW for our 10 year anniversary..but with the kids!! We thought maybe we'd get a sitter one night and do a date night..but I can't imagine being there without them! Anyone?

I wouldn't ever go without my kids either, BUT we don't get to Disney all that often---just once every few years. So, in that situation, it would seem downright cruel not to bring our kids: "Hey,kids, we're going to Disney World for the first time in four years, and you're not invited".

HOWEVER, it seems as if most the folks who go minus the kids are "regulars" who get to WDW quite often (every year or more). I don't think I've ever read a post from someone who said it was their first trip in xx years, but they weren't bringing the kids. All of the posts I've seen regarding leaving kids at home have taken their kids multiple times, and plan on taking them again soon.

I do know someone IRL though who went for the first time in 5 years, and left their kids at home. Their kids were older too--6 and 3. I did really feel sorry for the kids in that case, especially since the family had no plans to return any time soon. That was about three years ago, and they haven't been back yet.